March 20, 2005
Box Score
William and Mary senior catcher Jon Rhymes singled in two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Tribe overcame a 10-8 ninth-inning deficit and avoided a series sweep with an 11-10 win over George Mason in Colonial Athletic Association action.
Mike DeCarlo led off and reached on a throwing error by Mason shortstop Mike Genovese. Following a walk to Kyle Padgett, Greg Sexton moved both men over with a sacrifice bunt. Will Rhymes brought home DeCarlo with a single to left to trim the lead to 10-9. With Padgett on third and Will Rhymes on first, pinch hitter Jason Losey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a strikeout, Jon Rhymes worked the count to 3-0 and then ripped a 3-1 pitch to right to score the winning runs.
Mason reliever Phil Stone fell to 0-2 on the year after allowing three runs, none earned, on two hits in his inning of work. Mason is now 12-6, 2-1 in the CAA. William & Mary improved to 13-8, 1-2.
After the Tribe scored a run in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead, Tribe starter Jeff Dagenhart held the Patriots to just two hits through the first four innings before Mason touched him for seven runs in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead. The Patriots sent 11 men to the plate and scored all seven runs with two outs. The barrage featured a three run homer by Chris Looze and a solo shot from catcher Robby Jacobsen as Mason totaled seven hits in the inning.
Mason's wide cushion did not last long as William & Mary chipped away at the lead by plating five runs in the sixth. The Tribe sent 10 men to the plate and pieced together seven singles to cut the lead to 7-6. William & Mary chased Mason starter Brent Hitz who finished the day allowing five runs in five and one-third innings. The Patriots responded by scoring three runs in the seventh, one off of an RBI double by Jacobsen that scored Chris Fournier, and the other two coming on homer by Adam Innerst, who's fifth round-tripper of the year stretched the lead to 10-6. The Patriots would not score again.
The Tribe pushed together two in the seventh to cut the lead to 10-8 as Padgett blasted a two-run homer, scoring ahead of DeCarlo, who led off the frame with one of his three doubles on the day. Knackstedt held the Patriots at bay in the ninth before the Tribe scored three in its half to seal the win.
William and Mary banged out 17 hits as DeCarlo went 3 for 5 with three doubles. Will Rhymes also had three hits. Jon Rhymes, Chris Rahl, Padgett and Sexton all had two hits apiece, as Jon Rhymes and Padgett both had three RBIs. Mason totaled 10 hits as Innerst went 3 for 5. Looze and Jacobsen both drove in three runs. The Patriots totaled two errors defensively while the Tribe did not commit one.
Mason returns to action on Friday when it plays at Old Dominion. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
